Modelling and simulation of MRP II activities in multi agent systems

Abstract

This paper is modelled in details, and it describes an integrated MRP II agent system for use in a make-to-order manufacturing environment by demonstrating potential benefits on purchasing and manufacturing orders generated. MRP II activities were modelled in a multi-agent based system; the information exchanges and activities to occur within the system were identified and the system simulation was prepared by applying the Petri net method using the estimated operation times for these activities. Multi-agent systems were preferred for modelling due to the fact that these systems were intelligent software systems and they included discrete manufacturing systems as well as communication and software systems. Also, the Petri net system was preferred in simulation because it was one of the distributed artificial intelligence methods and used in the analysis of the status and information exchange in the software systems. The obtained results will provide information about the possible bottlenecks and interruptions to occur before implemented within a huge and complex system structure.